Honestly, I got into biomedical engineering because I like figuring out how things work, and I like that it can help a real person.
When genetics became personal
It got real for me in a genetics lab in Hartford. I've spent more than 70 hours there, extracting DNA from cheek swabs and blood samples using magnetic bead protocols, then running PCR on thermocyclers and TaqMan assays to look for gene variants.
We studied genes like CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, and VKORC1, and how they affect the way people respond to drugs like clopidogrel, codeine, and warfarin. What amazed me was that the same medication can work well for one person and differently for another because of their genes. That made personalized care feel concrete.
Learning to slow down
At UConn Health, I joined the Oguro Lab, where we study how blood stem cells renew themselves and how that process can go wrong and lead to leukemia. I've run more than 100 genotyping PCRs, worked with gel electrophoresis and genome sequencing, and helped maintain mouse colonies. I also built plasmid vectors to support a blood cancer manuscript.
The work can be repetitive, and one mix-up can compromise an experiment. It taught me to slow down and pay attention to the details.
Keeping people in the picture
I didn't want my experience to stay only in a lab. Over two summers, I spent more than 88 hours as a Patient Ambassador at Connecticut Children's. For MG Health, I interviewed more than 10 physicians about whether VitalWeave, a remote monitoring platform, would work in real clinics.
I'm also completing my EMT training and certification pathway, with more than 32 hours of skill labs covering airway management, trauma, and cardiac emergencies. Seeing the human side of healthcare keeps me grounded.
I want to help build technology that makes care more accurate and more personal.
I'm a high-honors student taking 13 AP and 14 honors courses, with a 1520 SAT score. What matters most to me is how I use that foundation. Biomedical engineering brings together the scientific questions I enjoy and the people I hope my work can help.